Downtown Youngstown law firms merge

The downtown Youngstown law firms of Manchester, Bennett, Powers & Ullman and Newman, Olson & Kerr have merged into a new firm known as Manchester, Newman and Bennett.

Because of the merger, which took effect Saturday, Newman, Olson & Kerr is relocating from the First National Bank building to Manchester offices at 201 E. Commerce St.

The Manchester firm was founded in 1872, and the Newman firm dates back to the 1930s. Both have maintained downtown Youngstown offices since their founding.

The combined firm practices law in the areas of business, labor, employment, banking, health care, real estate, oil and gas, litigation and bankruptcy.

This integration of legal expertise and complementary practice strengths will greatly benefit clients, said Atty. Stephen Bolton, who was president of Manchester Bennett. “Our approaches are very similar, especially on the business side,” he added.

Staying downtown was important to both firms, said Atty. E. Carroll “Ted” Thornton Jr., former president of the Newman firm. “With clients throughout Northeast Ohio, we wanted to maintain a centralized location,” he said.

Newman’s Broad Street office in Canfield will remain open until the newly merged firm opens an office at 3635 Boardman-Canfield Road, Canfield, on March 1.